Everyday You See Hypnosis

You might call it "highway hypnosis" or "zoning out" or "spacing off" or "in the zone". And, hypnosis is used on you everyday on radio and television. Even by your friends or family using guilt, blame, or joy to manipulate your decisions.

The state of hypnosis is a normal function of your mind. There is no big secret or special power involved. It is the state of mind your brain uses when accessing the huge amount of storage it contains.

The word hypnosis applies to the ways you communicate when asking for a favor or when someone else tries to appeal to your emotions to manipulate a decision. Hypnosis is a word with odd interpretations that describes everyday situations.

Hypnosis is in use when your critical faculty is bypassed. Analytical reason is set aside, or completely bypassed, in favor of emotional behavior Emotional behaviors are quicker and more consistent from person to person. So, more likely to elicit a predictable response. Like when you're driving and you hear a horn honk behind you. What is your immediate emotional behavior response? Guilt? Anger? Fear? The honking horn may not even be directed at you. The honking horn was honked with the intention of eliciting a rapid response, and it usually does. Sounds complicated until you start seeing how common it is.

The beer advertisement shows video that stimulates feelings of happiness, satisfaction, and companionship. People like those things and now those good feelings will tend to be associated with the image of that particular beer brand. If you think of a remote, relaxing, sunny beach in Mexico, blue water, white sand, the sound of small, soft waves, two lounge chairs and maybe a slice of lime, do you think of a particular brand of beer? That's emotional association at work.

Things like this are constantly happening around you, and everyone else. Many so minor you don't even notice. Unnoticed until you try to change them. You might experience that as fighting a craving or urge. You're likely aware that habits are formed in this way, but may not understand how powerful this can be and what a large influence on your life it can have.

When a strong emotional connection is made with a trigger, and then combined with repetition and the influence of an authority figure (like a basketball star), the learned belief can be very strong. That can make it more difficult to change. You can call this brand loyalty.

So, take this concept and apply it to someone with PTSD, or depression. Apply it to that person you know that can't quite quit smoking or has a favorite comfort food. Apply it to your driving habits, your eating habits, and your stress level. At the risk of being boring, I'll stop the examples and assume you get it.

Understanding this concept gives you the power to intentionally change your associations. Some you can do on your own. If you need help, find a professional you can trust and make it happen.